Fabric shaping and pressing machine



July 31, 1951 v J. SILVERMAN 1 2,562,398

FABRIC SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1949 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JuEy 31, 1951 J. SILVERMAN FABRIC SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1949 JNVENTOR.

J4C'05 5/1 I/A Z/VA/V July 31, 1951- SILVERMAN 2,562,398

- FABRIC SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1949 '4 Sheets-Sheetfi ArroQVfXE.

July 31, 1951 J. SILVERMAN 6 ,3

FABRIC SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE.

Fild May fY, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. /4005 s/zwgvfl/l/ Arratwvfiizzs.

Patented July 31 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FABRIC SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE Jacob Silverman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 7, 1949, Serial No. 91,951

15 Claims. I

The present invention relates to a novel fabric shaping and pressing machine and in particular to one adapted for the shaping and pressing of collars, pockets, and the like.

In the manufacture of various shaped fabric articles it is customary to sew or otherwise secure shaped pieces of fabric to one another, place the thus formed composite article over a template or the like which is shaped corresponding to the desired shape of the finished article, and then to press the fabric on the template in order to fix the fabric into its desired configuration more or less permanently. Various machines have been employed to facilitate the shaping and pressing portions of this sequence. The present invention relates to such a machine which may be broadly described as one in which a fabric article is placed over a forming plate or template, is then automatically caused to conformto the shape of the forming plate and is pressed in that shape. Applicants machine is here illustrated as applied to the manufacture of shirt collars and the like but it will be apparent that it can be employed for the formation of any other fabric article provided only that various forming elements be appropriately configured.

The machine of the present invention has the advantage that it requires manipulation only by one hand of the operator, thus leaving the other hand free for adjustment or guiding of the fabric on the forming plate. The machine is so designed that during the pressing operation, which may last for an appreciable period of time, the machine can be left alone, thus permitting a single operator to tend a plurality of machines if that is desired, and the machine is also so constructed that when the time for the pressing operation has elapsed, the fabric is withdrawn automatically from the pressing operation and out of contact with the heated presser plate upon the performance by the operator of a single simple manual operation. In addition, the machine is so constructed that the fabric will remain on the forming plate during its automatic removal from the pressing operation without the necessity of any manual interposition whatsoever; As another feature the machine is soconstructed that the very act of bringing the fabric into pressing position will cause it to conform snugly and smoothly to the contour of the forming plate. Further, the various moving parts of the-mechanism are so related and so arranged that manipulation of a single handle serves to move the forming plate from an exposed position in which the fabric may be initially manually arranged thereupon to its pressing position in which the fabric is pressed to conform to the configuration of the forming plate, the motion of the forming plate between these two positions being complex 2 in nature but nevertheless being controlled by a simple continuous motion of said handle.

All of the above advantages are achieved in a structure which is mechanically simple, easily adjustable, in which the parts are easily replaced and which may be very inexpensively manufactured.

To the accomplishment of the above objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of a fabric shaping and pressing machine as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter perspective view part-. ly from above showing the machine in its initial condition with the forming plate exposed so that the fabric may be arranged thereupon;

'Fig. 2 is aview similar to Fig. 1 but showing the first stage in the movement of the forming plate to its pressing position .Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the forming plate moved completely into its pressing position with the presser plate moved upwardly into engagement'therewith;

Fig. 4 is a'fragmentary side elevational view showing the rear of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the frame-with a portion thereof removed;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing one position of the presser member actuating and locking apparatus; and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing another position thereof.

The apparatus is here illustrated in the form of a portable collar shaping and pressing machine in which the forming plate A has a pointed end 2 shaped corresponding to the desired collar shape over which an appropriately constructed fabric piece 4 (shown in phantom in the'draW- ings) is adapted to be placed. The stationary frame generally designated B is 'provided with a' table generally designated C having an opening D therein, the opening being shaped so as to permit the passage of the forming plate A therethrough. A presser member generally des ignated E is mounted on the frame B below the table C and is normally so spacedfrom the table C that, once the forming plate A with the fabric 4 thereon has passed from its normal position above the table 0 as illustrated in Fig. 1 to a position below the table C as. illustrated in Fig. 2, it isslidable under the table C to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 in which at least a'portion of I said" forming plate A, including the edges with respect to which the fabric 4 is to be shaped, is interposed betweenthe underside of the table C and the upper surface of the presser member I0 E. An actuator generally designated F is provided which, when the parts take up the position shown in Fig. 3, is adapted to move the presser member E upwardly so as to press the fabric 4 on the forming plate A, and a lock generally designated G is adapted to releasably retain the presser member E in this upwardly forced position for as long as may be desired.

The forming plate A is secured in any appropriate manner to sleeve 6 which is slidable over arm 8, the end of the arm having a widened portion In in which adjusting screws I2 are mounted, the ends M of those screws projecting toward the sleeve 6 and limiting its forward slid position. A spring I6 is active on the sleeve 6 to move it toward the other end of the arm 8, which is mounted on plate l8 secured to leaf 20 hingedly mounted at 22 at the rear of the frame B soas to be pivotable between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An arm 24 is secured to the plate l8 and extends rearwardly therefrom, said arm having a wing nut secured hook 26 at the end thereof with which one end of spring 28 is engaged, the other end of the spring being anchored at 38 to the frame B, the spring 28 thus causing the arm 8 to normally'assume its raised pivoted position illustrated in Fig. 1. An adjustable screw 32 depending from the arm 24 is adapted to make contact with a stop leaf 34 fixed to the rear of the frame B so as to limit the spring-urged upwardly pivoted position of the arm 8.

A cam 36 is pivotally mounted on the arm 8 by the bolt 38 so that its cam surface 48 comes into contact with the sleeve 6. A spring 42 has one end secured'to the cam 36 and has its other end secured to the arm 24, the spring 42 thus tending to keep the cam 36 in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring [6 urging the sleeve 6 into engagement with the cam surface 40 so that the forming plate A assumes a first position with respect to the arm 8 such that when the arm 8 is pivoted downwardly the forming plate A with the fabric 4 thereon will pass through'the opening D in the table 0. When the cam 36 is pivoted to its position shown in Fig. 3, the raised portion of the cam surface 40 will force the sleeve 6, and with it the forming plate A, forwardly along the arm 8 until the sleeve 6 comes in contact with the ends I 4 of the screws I2. A handle 43 is secured to the cam 36 so as to render that cam manually movable, and since the cam 36 is secured to the arm 8, manipulation of the handle 43 also serves to pivot the arm 8 between its upper position shown in Fig. 1 and its lower position shown in Fig. 2.

A fabric retaining member generally designated H and here specifically shown in the form of a shaped lever 44 is pivotally mounted at 46 on the sleeve 6, the lever carrying a first finger 48 over that portion of the forming plate A on which the fabric 4 is arrangeable and a second finger 58 adapted to engage the top surface of the table C whenever the arm 8 is pivoted to its downward position as illustrated in Fig. 2,

that is to say, whenever the forming plate A is moved downwardly through the opening D in the table C. A weight 52 is'secured to the lever 44 on the second finger 50 side of the pivot point 46 so that the first finger 48 is normally out of engagement with the forming plate A. Conin the table C, the second finger 50 will contact the upper surface of the table C and hence will cause the fabric retaining member H to pivot in a clockwise direction about the axis 46 until the first finger 48 engages the fabric 4 on the top of the forming plate A. In order to allow for some play in the elements, a portion of the fabric retaining member H, here shown as the first finger 48 itself, is preferably formed of a resilient material such as spring steel.

Once the forming plate A has been moved through the opening D in the table C, clockwise rotation of the cam 36 about the bolt 38 will cause the plate A to slide from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 between the presser member E and the undersurface of the table C. The presser member E is in the form of a plate 54 onthe underside of which conventional heating elements 55 may be secured in any appropriate manner, the plate 54 being mounted below a removable portion 56 of the table C in an aperture 51 in the base plate 59 and guided so that it can move Vertically when desired. The removable portion 56 of the table C is secured to the base plate 59 by screws 6 I. Converging raised reenforcements 58 may be provided on the plate 54 terminating in an upwardly projecting V- shaped point 60, that point projecting up through a suitably shaped aperture 63 in the removable portion 56 of the table C. When the forming plate A is slid forwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3, its side edges will be received between the upwardly projecting reenforcements 58 and its pointed tip 2 will be received in the V-shaped projection 60. During this motion the outer surfaces of the fabric 4 will be retarded through their frictional Contact with the stationar upper surface of the presser member E and the stationary lower surface of the table C and as a result the fabric 4 will be automaticall smoothed over the edges of the forming plate A. Thereafter, by means of the actuator F, the presser member E is moved upwardly, and, through the action of the lock G, is retained in that upper position, holding the forming plate A with the fabric 4 thereon in its forward position against the retracting action of the spring [6 even though the handle 43 is released and the cam 36 is caused to pivot in a counterclockwise direction through the action of the spring 42 back to its first position. Pressing of the fabric 4 on the forming plate A takes place during this period.

As here illustrated, the actuator F comprises a movable member in the form of a lever 62 pivotally mounted in the frame by having an aperture 64 receivable over screw 66 adjustably mounted in block 68 appropriately secured to the frame B. A spring 10 is active on the lever 62 to pivot 'it in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and '7 and a connection by means of a chain or the like 12 is made between the lever 62 and any appropriate manual actuating mechanism such as a foot treadle. The inner end of the lever .62 is provided with a pin I4 adapted to bear against the underside of the presser member E and, when the chain or the like 12 is depressed as through depression of the foot treadle. toforce the presser member E upwardly so as to press the fabric 4 on the forming plate A and retain the forming plate A in its forward position.

I A lock including the holding member 16 is active to retain the movable member 62 of the actuator F in its operative position in which the presser member E is moved upwardly. To this end, the holding member l6 is in the form of a lever pivotally mounted at 18 on the lever 62 and provided with a hook portion 80 engageable with a ledge 82 on the frame B whenever the foot treadle or other manual actuating device is actuated sufficiently to cause the lever 62 to pivot to a great enough degree for interengagement between the hook 80 and the ledge 82. Once-this interengagement has been accomplished, the foot treadle may be released and the spring 10, in attempting to pivot the moving member 62 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs; 6 and 7, will cause a firm interengagement between the hook portion 80 of the holding member 15 and the ledge 82 on the frame B.

The lock G is also provided with a releasing member in the form of a lever 84 pivotally mounted at B on the actuating moving member 62 itself. "One end 81 of the releasing member 84 extends up through aperture 88 in the table C in a position directly under the cam 36. The other end 90 of the releasing lever 84 is adapted to engage an inwardly projecting portion 92 of the holding member 76.

The apparatus will normally assume the position illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the spring 23 causes the arm 8 to assume its upwardly pivoted position, which position is limited by interengage- I ment between screw 32 and positive stop 34. The spring 42 causes the cam 36 to assume its first position and the spring l6 causes the sleeve 6 to slide 'backwardly along the arm 8 into engagement with the cam surface it). The fabric retaining member H pivots, under the influence of the weight 52, so that its first finger 48 is out of engagement with the forming plate A. The actuator moving member 62 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of the spring 10 so that the pin 14 does not urge the presser member E upwardly. In this position, the fabric 4 may be freely arranged over the portion 2 of the forming plate A.

Once this has been'done, the operator grasps the handle 43 and pulls it toward him. At first this action will have no effect on the cam 36 but will merely cause the arm 8 to pivot downwardly so that the forming plate A with the fabric 4 thereon can pass through the opening D in the table C. This position is illustrated in Fig. 2. Continued motion of the handle 43 in the direction of the arrow 94 of Fig. 2 will cause it to move from the broken line position in Fig. 3 to the solid line position in Fig. 3, the engagement between the cam surface 40 and the sleeve 6 causing the forming plate A to slide forwardly between the upper surface of the presser member E'and the lower surface of the table C until its point 2 is received inside the converging reenforcements 58 and the upward protrusion 60 on the presser member E. During this motion, as has already been pointed out, frictional force is exerted on the fabric 4 so as to smoth'the fabric 4 over the forming plate A and cause it to conform snugly thereto.

Once the handle 43 has been pivoted all the way to the position shown in Fig. 3, the foot treadle or other manual actuating devic is 0perated to pivot the actuator moving member 62 in a clockwise direction and cause the presser member E to move upwardly.- When sufficient pressure has been applied, the hook portion 80 on the lock holding member 16 will engage with the ledge 82 on the frame B and thus retain the apparatus in pressing condition. The handl 43 me then be rel a ed and t e sp i 4 w l ause the pressure exerted on the forming plate A as it is held between the upwardly urged presser member E and the table C will be sufficient to cause it to retain its position interposed between the presser member E and the table C even though the spring It tends to pull it therefrom. The cam 36, however, when it moves back to its first position, will engage the end 8'! of the releasing lever 84 and will tend to pivot that lever so that its end 90 comes into contact with the projecting portion 92 of the lock holding member 16. The spring 42 active on the cam 36 will thus exert a force on the holding member l6 tending to move it out of holding position but the spring 10, being.

much stronger, will cause such firm engagement between the hook portion 86 of the holding member '16 and the ledge 82 on the fram B that the apparatus will retain its position illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that the operation as thus far described can be carried out through the use of but one hand and one foot of the operatior and that once the apparatus has been secured in pressing condition, the operator can. leave it untended and is therefore available forother tasks.

When the pressing period is completed, all that the operatorneed do to release the apparatus is to re-depress the foot treadle or other actuating mechanism so as to cause the actuator moving member 52 to pivot in a clockwise direction. This releases the action of the spring it on the interengagement between the hook portion Bil and the ledge 82 and hence the force exerted on the releasing member 84 by the spring 42 acting through the cam 36 will be sufficient to cause the holding member 16 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and '7 so that when the foot treadle or other actuating mechanism is then released, the actuator moving member 52 is permitted to move upwardly as urged by the spring H1, the holding member 16 being held in clockwise pivoted condition so that the hook 88 cannot engage with the ledge 82, thus permitting the presser member E, to move downwardly and release the forming plate A from its held position. When this occurs, the spring l6 slides the forming plate A rearwardly and, as soon as the forming plate A comes into registration with the opening D in the table C, the spring 28 will cause the arm 8 to pivot upwardly to its position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the fabric 4 can be removed from the exposed forming plate A. 7

During the time that the forming plate A is moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the second finger 59 of the fabric retaining member H will slide over the top of the table C and hence the first finger 48 will constantly be resiliently pressed into engagement with the fabric 4 on the forming plate A, thus retaining it in position. When the forming plate A moves backwardly from its position illustrated in Fig. 3 to its position illustrated in Fig. 2, which will take place whenever the presser member E is released, frictional dragging forces will b exerted on the fabric 4 tending to slide it off of the forming plate A. However, during this motion, the fabric retaining member H will still be urged into engagement with the fabric 4 since its second finger 50 will still bein contact with the upper surface of the table C. It will therefore b apparent that the fabric retaining member H serves to prevent disarrangement of the fabric 4 on the forming plate A during the automatic withdrawal sequence.

Once the forming plate A has. moved upwardly, however, the second finger 50 of the fabric retaining member H will no longer be in engagement with the table C, the weight 52 will cause the fabric retaining member H to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, andhence no resistance will be offered to the removal of the pressed and formed fabric 4 from the forming plate A.

The machine constructed and arrange as described is made of a minimum. of parts all easily accessible and easily replaceable. The operation can be adjusted in a very simple manner and the action of the machine is such that effective shaping and pressing is achieved with a minimum of attention and skill required on the part of the operator. Actual manipulation of the machin is a simple and fool-proof matter involving a single continuous movement of a. handle 43 and a. single actuation of a foot treadle or other appropriate mechanism in order to secure the machine in pressing condition and a single actuation of the foot treadle or other appropriate mechanism to release the apparatus from its pressing condition and return it to stand-by condition. The operation is such that the fabric 4. is automatically smoothed over the forming plate A in the course of the operation of the machine and before the pressing takes place, and disarrangement of the fabric 4 on the forming plate A is prevented during the movement of the forming. plate A to its exposed position after the pressing operation has been completed.

It will be apparent that many variations may be made in the specific design of the machine here set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fabric shaping and pressing machine comprising a frame, a forming plate over which a piece of fabric is adapted to be placed articulately mounted thereon, a table having an opening through which said forming plate is passable, a presser member below said table, said forming plate with said piece of fabric thereon first being movable in one direction through said opening to a position lower than said table and then being movable in another direction so as to be interposed between said presser member and said table, and an actuator for said presser member for moving said member towards said table so as to press said forming plate and the fabric thereon between said member and said table.

2. A fabric shaping and pressing machine comprising a frame, a forming plate over which a piece of fabric is adapted to be placed articulately mounted thereon, a table having an opening through which said forming plate is passable, a presser member below said table, said forming plate being movable downwardly through said opening and being then translatable so that at least a portion of said plate is interposed between said table and said presser member, an actuator for said presser member for moving said member towards said table so as to press said forming plate and the fabric thereon between said member and said table, and a lock for releasably securing said presser member in pressing condition.

3. In the fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 2, a fabric retaining member comprising a lever articulately mounted with respect to and movable with said forming plate, said lever being sensitive to the position of said forming plate so as to engage the fabric thereon whenever said forming plate has passed. through said opening.

4. In the fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 2, a fabric retaining member comprising a lever articulately mounted with respect to and movable with said forming plate, said lever having a first finger engageable with the fabric on said forming plate but normally out of engagement therewith and having a second finger engageable with said table when said forming platev is moved downwardly through said opening, engagement of said second finger with said table causing engagement of said first finger with said fabric so as to retain said fabric on said plate in opposition to frictional forces.

5. The fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 4,, in which a portion of said lever is resiliently bendable.

6. A fabric shaping and pressing machine comprising a frame, an arm pivotally mounted thereon, a forming plate over which av piece of fabric is adapted to be placed mounted on said arm so as to be slidable longitudinally thereof between first and second positions, a table having an opening through which said forming plate is passable only when it is in said first position, a presser member below said table, said forming plate in said second position being at least partially interposed between said table and said presser member, and an actuator for said presser member for moving said member towards said table so as to press said formin plate and the fabric thereon between said member and said table.

'7. In the fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 6, a fabric retaining member comprising a lever articulately mounted with respect to and movable with said forming plate, said lever having a first finger engageable with the fabric on said forming plate but normally out of. engagement therewith and having a, second finger engageable with said table when said forming plate is moved downwardly through said opening and slidable over said table as said plate moves between its first and second positions, engagement of said second finger with said table causing engagement of said first finger with said fabric so as to. retain said fabric on said plate in opposition to frictional forces.

8. A fabric shaping and pressing machine comprising a frame, an arm pivotally mounted thereon, a forming plate over which a piece of fabric is adapted to be placed mounted on said arm so as to be slidable longitudinally thereof, a cam mounted on said arm and operatively connected to said forming plate, said cam in one position permitting said forming plate to assume a first position on said arm and said cam in another position permitting said forming plate to assume a second position on said arm, a table having an openin through which said forming plate is passable only when it is in said first position, a presser member below said table, said forming. plate in said second position being at least partially interposed between said table and said presser member, a handle connected to said cam manipulatable to pivot said arm on said frame and then tomove said cam on said arm, and an actuator for said presser member for moving said member towards said table so as to press said forming plate and the fabric thereon between said member and said table.

9'. A fabric shaping and pressing machine comprising a frame, an arm pivotally mounted thereon, a sleeve slidable on said arm, a forming plate over which a piece of fabric is adapted to be placed secured to said sleeve, a cam pivotally mounted on said arm, a spring active on said cam to move it to a first position, a spring active on said sleeve to move it into engagement with said cam, a table having an opening through which said forming plate is passable, a presser member below said table, said forming plate assuming, when said cam is in said first position, a first position on said arm such that it can pass through said opening when said arm is pivoted downwardly, movement of said cam to a second position causing said forming plate to move along said arm to a second position until at least a portion thereof is interposed between said table and said presser member, a handle connected to said cam and manipulatable to pivot said arm downwardly on said frame and then to pivot said cam on said arm, and an actuator for said presser member for moving said member towards said table so as to press said forming plate and the fabric thereon between said member and said table.

10. In the fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 9, a fabric retaining member comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said sleeve and movable therewith along said arm together with said forming plate, said lever being sensitive to the position of said forming plate so as to engage the fabric thereon whenever said forming plate has passed through said opening.

11. In the fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 9, a fabric retaining member comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said sleeve and movable therewith along said arm together with said forming plate, said lever having a first finger engageable with the fabric on said forming plate but normally out of engagement therewith and having a second finger engageable with said table when said forming plate is moved downwardly a holding member engageable with said frame when said actuator is positioned to move said presser member towards said table, said member being operatively connected to said actuator to retain it in said position so long as said member is so engaged with said frame, and a releasing member operatively acted upon by said cam only when said cam is in said one position and when said forming plate is moved downwardly through said opening, said releasing member, when acted upon by said cam, being active upon said holding member to move it out of engagement with said frame.

14. The fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 8, in which said actuator comprises a moving member articulately mounted on said frame, said moving member being operatively connected to said presser member to move it towards said table, a spring active on said moving member to move it so as to cause said presser member to move away from said table, and manual means active on said moving member to move it in the opposite direction, and a lock for securing said presser member in pressing condition, said lock comprising a holding member mounted on said moving member so as to be engageable with said frame when said moving member is moved by said manual means, said spring, upon release of said manual means, causing a firm contact between said holding member and said frame, thus retaining said presser member in position moved toward said table, and a releasing member operatively acted upon by said cam only when said cam is in said one position and when said forming plate is moved downwardly through said opening, said releasing member, when acted upon by said cam, being in turn active upon said holding member to tend to pivot it out of engagement with said frame, the force exerted thereon by said cam being insuflicient to cause disengagement between said holding member and said frame until said manual means is employed to move said moving member farther against the action of said spring, thus effectively destroying the spring-urged contact between said holding member and said frame.

15. The fabric shaping and pressing machine of claim 8, in which said actuator comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, one end of said lever being engageable with said presser member to move it towards said table, a spring active on said lever to pivot it so as to move said end away from said presser member, and manual means active on said lever to pivot it so as to move said end into engagement with said presser member, and a lock for securing said presser member in pressing condition, said lock comprising a holding member articulately mounted on said lever so as to be engageable with said frame when said lever is moved by said manual means, said spring, upon release of said manual means, causing a firm contact between said holding member and said frame, thus retaining said lever in engagement with said presser member, and a releasing member pivotally mounted on said frame and having a portion extending up through said table so as to be engaged by said cam only when said cam is in said one position and said forming plate is moved downwardly through said opening, said releasing member being urged by said cam into engagement with said holding member so as to tend to move said holding member out of engagement with said frame, the force exerted by said cam being insuflicient to cause disengagement between said holding member and said frame until said manual means is employed to move said lever farther against the action of said spring, thus effectively destroying the spring-urged contact between said holding member and said frame.

JACOB SILVERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS V'achon Feb. 5, 1946' 

